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    The Mariner

    4.4 (623 reviews)
    Open 12:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 3 months ago

    The Mariner Photos

    THE MARINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Upscale

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    Recommended Reviews - The Mariner

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    Clam chowder cup - best ever. Beer from Rhode Island, paired well.
    Karly K.

    This place is pretty decent overall. It's a lively atmosphere with friendly staff in the heart of downtown tourism. They do happy hour and have live tunes in the bar area. The menu is fairly priced for fresh seafood and with a great local beer selection on draft. The NE clam chowder = best I ever had in my life. Abundant with clams. Not overly potato-ridden. Not too heavy but rich with flavor. Scallops and corn risotto entree was pretty good, but the scallops lacked sweetness. The risotto stole the show. The lobster roll was decent sized and great fries, but again the meat wasn't super sweet or memorable. It's really luck of the draw with seafood sometimes. Would still return and recommend it as a more affordable option given the potion sizes provided + quick service.

    Lager
    Candice S.

    Delicious place for dinner! I kept it classic either clam chowder and a hot lobster roll. I also tried their lager which was very light and refreshing. The clam chowder is award winning and I don't doubt it. They really put the "chowder" in the same. I've never had such a hearty version. I will also say there was more clam in it than I've ever seen before. My lobster roll was delicious. There were very large chunks of lobster on top that could have used butter, but when you got to the middle it was perfect. The bread was amazing and the lobster was so flavorful. We were so full from everything I barely even touched my fries. The few I had were good though. Our waitress was very friendly and attentive. We had a reservation and were sat right away, even with the place being surprisingly busy for their last hour on a Thursday night.

    some decor inside the restaurant

    The Mariner is a must if stopping in Mystic. The food was outstanding and the service was above and beyond. Not only did we have dinner there, but we went back for lunch the next day. Great atmosphere inside and a few small tables out front right on Main St. in Mystic. Portions are generous, including sides. We especially loved the clam chowder, filet mignon tips, and blackened swordfish.

    Oysters
    JP P.

    Let's start with saying I should have written a review years ago the first time I was here. Luckily, for you, I went back and this is a summation of that visit! The server we had was phenomenal. The service was timely, accurate and was never awkward or rushed. The decor is fitting to the name and the location the nautical blue and white with amazing photos on the walls! Now let's get to the main event, the food! Calamari - 4.5 out of 5 (super fresh and not rubbery) Oysters - 5 out of 5 (local and sweet) Fried fish sammie - 4.5 out of 5 (flaky and perfectly cooked) The blood orange mocktail slaps! If I was not driving I'd want that with a shot of GIN! This place did not disappoint years ago and the quality is stellar today. Please do yourself a favor, GO!

    Diane C.

    4.5 STARS!!!! 8/2/25: The Mariner is a great causal restaurant! Our wonderful server was Ingrid. We started out with a Cab.Sauvignon and beer. Water and bread were brought to the table. We both ordered chicken piccata. We thought it was the best chicken piccata ever! Dessert, we shared a delicious fresh berry shortcake. Indoor and outdoor seating is available. Best to make reservations for restaurants on the main drag in Mystic, Ct. Parking is hairy in Mystic Connecticut. Best to park in a lot. Unless, you just happen to be lucky and find someone leaving a street spot. Definitely looking forward to my next visit to "The Mariner".

    Lobster roll
    Yara F.

    Came here on a busy Saturday night with a reservation! While I highly recommend making a reservation because downtown my mistake can get very busy on weekend nights, we did see some groups walk in and not have super long waits. We ordered a ton of food to share. Oysters were fresh and delicious. The wedge salad was crispy and well dressed. The fried mozzarella was a reasonable portion and the red sauce it was served with was perfectly acidic. The clam chowder was absolutely amazing, they clearly have perfected their recipe and it was super well seasoned, and one of the best clam chowder I've ever had. The lobster roll was fine, not the best I've had but also not the worst. Overall, I would definitely come back here, and probably get a bowl of the clam chowder specifically because that really impressed me!

    Seared Ahi tuna w squash & eggplant caponata. Full disclosure, I took one bite of the Ahi before I took the picture.
    Debra S.

    Stopped in for a late lunch/early dinner on a Tuesday. Great food! Their award winning NE clam chowder did not disappoint. Also ordered the seared Ahi tuna with squash & eggplant caponata. The Ahi was fresh & seared perfectly. Was seated right away, they brought water and took my order promptly. The food came out coursed. Nice music was playing, but not too loud. They offered both indoor and outdoor seating, but I chose to sit inside. Highly recommend and would return.

    Clare C.

    Ordered some takeout on a Sunday evening! Easy online ordering. Parking is always a little tricky in town but I was able to find a spot across the bridge and walk over. Inside is cute and really nice. The workers were friendly and able to guide me to the right spot. I ordered the crab cake, seared tuna, and baked haddock. The restaurant didn't have the seared tuna and so they gave me a call. They were able to substitute it out for a yellow tuna that was delicious. Loved everything! All delicious and well made with great flavors! Would definitely come back!

    Lobster roll

    The food was excellent. We had happy hour at the bar with drinks and peel and eat shrimp. For dinner we each had a hot lobster roll. Maybe the best we have had. I had the Prosecco. We finished with the chocolate devils food cake. The bar was packed during happy hour with a congenial vibe. Service was good. My only complaint was she cleared my plate while I was at the bathroom with hubs permission! I had a lot of fries left and they were tasty!

    Lobster Roll and Fries
    John M.

    Sat outside, which was a very fun view/experience. On the main street in historic Mystic. My server was very nice! I started with a cup of the clam chowder. The server said it was "award winning" -- and honestly, I agree. I think it was the best clam chowder I've ever had. Then, because it was my first night on the East Coast (visiting from Denver), I had to get a lobster roll. The quality of the lobster was awesome! But I imagined a lobster roll (any lobster roll) with a heaping amount of lobster, so much that it was spilling out. This was not the case... but again, it was such good quality, it was fine. The bun/bread that it was served in was delicious! Yet the fries served on the side were soggy, and really not that good. I would come here again, if/when visiting. And would 100% get the clam chowder!

    Clam chowder
    Amanda W.

    We had such a great time here that I'm pretty sure this place is going on my "restaurants I brag about" list. The food was delicious, the service was on point, and the ambiance made us feel like we were in our classy era. We kicked things off with the peel-and-eat shrimp -- 30 of them. Yes, we counted. Yes, we finished them. No regrets. They were perfectly priced and absolutely delicious. Then came the lobster roll, which was so good it basically demanded its own round of applause. And the clam chowder? Fabulous. Creamy, cozy, and honestly, I'd like to swim in it. Overall: great food, great service, great vibes. 10/10, would return to eat another unreasonable amount of shrimp.

    Menu

    Got there when it opened at noon. fast and friendly service. The waitresses only fault was she did not offer the daily specials. Food was prepared perfectly and tasted great. Nice and quiet to enjoy a light lunch.

    New England Clam Chowder (halfway finished before I remember to take a picture)
    Debra L.

    I'm in Mystic for two reasons: clam chowder and lobster rolls... but I wouldn't return to The Mariner for either. Hot Lobster Roll ($32): Although the price was as expected, this lobster roll felt tiny. I would recommend walking a little further down Main St to get a hot lobster roll from Off the Hook instead. Clam Chowder ($9/$13): I saw so many reviews praising this chowder for being perfectly seasoned but I found it to be too salty and regretted getting the bowl instead of the cup. Although the food disappointed, the service was wonderfully attentive and our server was so friendly.

    Steak Frites, Prime Rib Special, Caesar Salad

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    Food was very good! Loved our little table by the window. The patio is nice in the summer too!

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    Page 1 of 16

    Ask the Community - The Mariner

    Do they serve a cold lobster roll with mayo?

    Yes although it is not on the menu, we can usually accommodate this request.

    View All 2 Questions

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    This ranks as one of my all time favorite dining experiences. We recently moved to CT from DC,…read morewhere amazing restaurants are around every corner. There were 6 of us for brunch and none of us had been here before. The Shipwright's Daughter rivals many excellent experiences we had and surpasses most. The staff was super friendly and did everything they could to make our experience memorable. The brunch menu offers a nice assortment of options as we had one member in our party who had some eating restrictions. We started off with both raw and roasted oysters, both of which, we some of the best we have ever had. I love Shashuka. I've never had it with tomatillos. This version is now my favorite. I enjoyed the play between savory and acid. I chose my eggs to be prepared over easy expecting the yolks to add the desired richness that tomatillos can handle without overpowering their bite. What set this version apart for me was the addition of the pickled vegetables. They greatly complimented the tomatillos with their own sweetness and acidity that made for a well balanced bite. Others in our party felt similarly, that their meals were so flavorful and so well execucted that it made for a superb dining experience.

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    The Mariner - seafood - Updated May 2026

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